A new Velocity Plat's first DJ experience in 8 years...

[Noob]

On my first DJ business leg today since status match. Interesting to see how it goes. 737 unfortunately...

Between Perth and east coast?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Like if in damage control QF offered status matches....

Given their previous comments, that's unlikely!

 

[Boris spatsky]

Yep, MEL to PER.

 

[Febs]

Now this is odd...
My flight has posted, but as "MEL-SYD one way" (when I flew SYD-MEL), with 0 points and 0 status credits.

:?:

Edit: Rang up and it's all sorted. Double SCs too.

 

[munitalP]

@Febs. Thanks for the report.

You have summed up my thoughts quite well. I am split 2 ways with QF and VA. The company I work for has a QF (AU) only policy, and a LH (EUR) only policy, and a AA (Americas) only policy, so naturally we have a number of dual high status employees (myself included), but to fly VA on a route that QF flys nearly needs the GM to authorise. With 120K employees world wide, I expect our rebates are quite high!

So my VA flying is 90% out of my own pocket - my SYD/MEL return weekly flights.

On most Friday nights and Sunday nights, QF beat VA in the $$$ stakes if im flying at 2000ish, so if I decide for whatever reason (such as a 1700 flight opposed to 2000 on a Friday) and I get onto a dated AC such as you experienced, I feel somewhat deflated over the whole hype and carry on with VA.

Im doing over 90 personal (i.e. I pay for) flights a year now, so I want my dollar well spent.

I seriously struggle to convince myself that the VA hard product is better than QF (from the QF J lounge vs VA Lounge, to the seats and AC) - as much as I would like to, I can't. The comments of others here (AFF or FT) will find all means to justify why VA's better etc, but these comments are generally from people who don't do that many flights... hmmm

I have kept my 4 upgrades and the next time travelling to WA, will find some means of flying VA so I can try the A330 hard product - I just hope at the time I get onto the better of the two high rotation, ten year old repainted middle eastern of descent aircraft, and the experience is better than I have had to date.

The half pregnant comment as well - LMFAO - really!

Again, thanks for your candid comments

munitalP

 

[MatF]

I had my first VA/DJ flight in 4 years today as well - a repercussion from the QF grounding. I flew DJ931 SYD-BNE, and it was also a tired old 738.

Febs, I agree with your comments, I think you've summed up my thoughts well on some aspects of my flight. I was in 14F, so back in economy - I didn't check in until I got to the lounge this morning, so my fault on the seating allocation, but man - such an uncomfortable, hard seat. The aircraft was really in quite a bad state. The flight was also full, which didn't help.

I probably need to make the effort to try one of the refurbished aicraft before I can draw any real conclusions.

I'm still not sure what kind of a VA Platinum "experience" I was expecting, to be honest. I was quite impressed with the staff, and thought both the lounge and flight crew were all very good, but I think the aircraft itself was the letdown.

Our company is QF "preferred", though I believe VA have recently managed to secure part of our contract spend, so I will probably have the opportunity to fly on either in the future. My problem however is that my regular fortnightly flights are WGA-SYD-BNE-SYD-WGA, and the WGA-SYD-WGA legs have to be either QantasLink or Rex, so sticking with QF is easier.

... unless VA start flying to WGA *cough*

 

[Febs]

That's a lot of personal flying munitalP! I'm in the same boat with corporate fares - no contract with DJ, so all our flying is on QF (I've heard we have the biggest corporate QF contract, not sure if that's true, but I'm sure we're towards the top).

I considered keeping the upgrades for a PER trip (to try the new J class), but have no reason to go to PER and probably won't be going there in the next 12 months for a holiday.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So my VA flying is SYD/MEL return weekly flights.

On most Friday nights and Sunday nights, QF beat VA in the $$$ stakes if im flying at 2000ish,

The comments of others here (AFF or FT) will find all means to justify why VA's better etc, but these comments are generally from people who don't do that many flights... hmmm

Not all others munitalP

Although my flying (which is certainly out of my pocket) has been hammered of late, I was flying only slightly fewer sectors than you but very much different. I'm assuming you have your sectors booked well in advance and if so, I agree QF can be very competitive. Mine is not so easy as I regularly fly with under a weeks notice and I find DJ are almost always cheaper than QF (but rarely cheaper than JQ and that gap seems to be widening).

Couple this up with the fact my flying takes in ports QF have JQed and the fact DJ offer SCs/points where JQ doesn't and it means quite a different outcome for me, over what you've experienced. I'd probably struggle to attain QF Gold (without buying the more expensive SC awarding JQ fares) whereas I have achieved DJ gold and when my flying picks up again, possibly even plat.

So not everyone is looking to justify why DJ is better, it just pans out that way!

 

[medhead]

@Febs. Thanks for the report.

You have summed up my thoughts quite well. I am split 2 ways with QF and VA. The company I work for has a QF (AU) only policy, and a LH (EUR) only policy, and a AA (Americas) only policy, so naturally we have a number of dual high status employees (myself included), but to fly VA on a route that QF flys nearly needs the GM to authorise. With 120K employees world wide, I expect our rebates are quite high!

So my VA flying is 90% out of my own pocket - my SYD/MEL return weekly flights.


munitalP

Oops I think I edited down your post to much. I just wanted to say I'm in the same boat as you with flying, it is 99% personal, even if it is to get to work, and out of my pocket. I've dragged out my spreadsheet and I find DJ is about $20 cheaper on average for ADL/SYD. this is with booking about 3 to 4 months in advanced. Not having work travel gives me the luxury of advanced booking.

I totally agree with you comments about DJ not being better than QF. My version, for my flying, is they are the same. Well I actually like the friendliness and smiles of the DJ staff, then again I liked being called by my first name. But overall the same, for my flying. That is, always 6am Monday, where all I want to do is sleep and I always (99%) reject the qantas breakfast, so price is the winner. Otherwise, it's late night out of Sydney to be served a "snack".

I'm yet to receive on board Virgin Plat benefits like free bottles of water and such. But I have been moved to PE once or twice. This matches my one QF op-up. QF have been good recently with welcomes on board and some extras from J, but only on my true personal travel at weekends. Again I rate the extras as being the same.

In a long winded way that gets me to my conclusion: all that means price can be my driver in picking an airline.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[munitalP]

Not all others munitalP

Although my flying (which is certainly out of my pocket) has been hammered of late, I was flying only slightly fewer sectors than you but very much different. I'm assuming you have your sectors booked well in advance and if so, I agree QF can be very competitive. Mine is not so easy as I regularly fly with under a weeks notice and I find DJ are almost always cheaper than QF (but rarely cheaper than JQ and that gap seems to be widening).

Couple this up with the fact my flying takes in ports QF have JQed and the fact DJ offer SCs/points where JQ doesn't and it means quite a different outcome for me, over what you've experienced. I'd probably struggle to attain QF Gold (without buying the more expensive SC awarding JQ fares) whereas I have achieved DJ gold and when my flying picks up again, possibly even plat.

So not everyone is looking to justify why DJ is better, it just pans out that way!

Oops I think I edited down your post to much. I just wanted to say I'm in the same boat as you with flying, it is 99% personal, even if it is to get to work, and out of my pocket. I've dragged out my spreadsheet and I find DJ is about $20 cheaper on average for ADL/SYD. this is with booking about 3 to 4 months in advanced. Not having work travel gives me the luxury of advanced booking.

I totally agree with you comments about DJ not being better than QF. My version, for my flying, is they are the same. Well I actually like the friendliness and smiles of the DJ staff, then again I liked being called by my first name. But overall the same, for my flying. That is, always 6am Monday, where all I want to do is sleep and I always (99%) reject the qantas breakfast, so price is the winner. Otherwise, it's late night out of Sydney to be served a "snack".

I'm yet to receive on board Virgin Plat benefits like free bottles of water and such. But I have been moved to PE once or twice. This matches my one QF op-up. QF have been good recently with welcomes on board and some extras from J, but only on my true personal travel at weekends. Again I rate the extras as being the same.

In a long winded way that gets me to my conclusion: all that means price can be my driver in picking an airline.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

I think we are all on the same page here - my point was my POV.

just to make one more thing clear, my personal travel is about 40% of my total travel at the moment, and about 10% of total distance covered as it is only SYD/MEL legs

munitalP

 

[medhead]

I think we are all on the same page here - my point was my POV.

just to make one more thing clear, my personal travel is about 40% of my total travel at the moment, and about 10% of total distance covered as it is only SYD/MEL legs

munitalP

Oh yes, of course, page 15 all around. Didn't mean to discount your POV. I was just sharing mine as it seems to match yours to some extent, considering the differences between ADL/SYD, SYD/MEL and even SYD/BNE if we talk to JohnK

Are you still doing SYD drinks nights, btw?


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.